And it happened at the time when the flock conceived that I looked up and saw in a dream that the rams which mated [with the female goats] were streaked, speckled, and spotted. 11 And the b]">[b]Angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 He said, ‘Look up and see, all the rams which are mating [with the flock] are streaked, speckled, and spotted; for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar, and where you made a vow to Me; now stand up, leave this land, and return to the land of your birth.’” 14 Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not counted by him as foreigners? For he sold us [to you in marriage], and has also entirely used up our purchase price. 16 Surely all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has told you to do, do it.” 17 Then Jacob stood [and took action] and put his children and his wives on camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and [took along] all his property which he had acquired, the livestock he had obtained and accumulated in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel [went inside the house and] stole her father’s c]">[c]household gods. 20 And Jacob d]">[d]deceived Laban the Aramean (Syrian) by not telling him that he intended to leave and he slipped away secretly. 21 So he fled with everything that he had, and got up and crossed the river [Euphrates], and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead [east of the Jordan River].Genesis 31:10–21
Jacob lived to the land of his uncle Laban, where he married his daughters and worked with his herds. Though Laban took advantage of Jacob on several occasions, God still provided for Jacob—so much so that Jacob’s wealth begins to overtake Laban’s. Laban’s sons aren’t too happy with this, and Jacob senses that he is not among friends.
God comes to Jacob in a dream. The dream recaps Laban’s mistreatment of Jacob and shows that God has been providing for Jacob despite Laban’s schemes. The dream’s message is clear: it’s time to go home.
1. Converse With God
When the angel of the Lord called Jacob in his dream, Jacob answered and said, “Here I am”. God desires for us to converse with Him so it is not just one sided. Effective communication is when the two parties involved, each contribute to the conversation.
2. God Sees all the Situations We Are In Because He is With Us
The angel of God told Jacob that, “I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you”. No matter what tough situations and circumstances you are in, for as long as God has promised to be with you (which he already has), then don’t despair. He will not let it go beyond what He has planned for you.
3. Follow God’s Timings for Your Life
In verse 13, God tells Jacob to stand up and leave the (Laban’s) land and to return to the land of his birth. Jacob had been in Padan-arram for about 20 years before God asked him to leave.
Timing is very important in life because you are able to achieve so much within a shorter period of time because all factors are in place. God will not be early or late – He will always be in time.
God will speak to you directly about change of seasons but He also prepares you with the circumstances around you. For Jacob:
a. Laban’s attitude had changed – Jacob noticed [a change in] the attitude of Laban, and saw that it was not friendly toward him as before. verse 2
b. Laban had changed Jacob’s wages ten times ie he was dishonest – So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and he said to them, “I see [a change in] your father’s attitude, that he is not friendly toward me as [he was] before; but the God of my father [Isaac] has been with me. You know that I have served your father with all my strength. Yet your father has cheated me [as often as possible] and changed my wages ten times; but God did not allow him to hurt me. Verse 4-10
c. Laban’s sons’ were complaining against Jacob – Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying: “Jacob has taken away everything that was our father’s, and from what belonged to our father he has acquired all this wealth and honor.” Verse 1
“ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9
“The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” Lamentations 3:25-26
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
4. Share Your Dream With Only Supportive People
In verse 4 of Genesis 31, “So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to his flock in the field, and he said to them…” He shared with them the dream he had and what the Lord had instructed him.
The two women said to Jacob in verse 14-16,
"Rachel and Leah answered him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not counted by him as foreigners? For he sold us [to you in marriage], and has also entirely used up our purchase price. Surely all the riches which God has taken from our father are ours and our children’s. Now then, whatever God has told you to do, do it.”
You want to be cautious that the people you share with are those who will support and nudge you to do according to what God has commanded you.
5. There is Implementable Wisdom from Dreams
From the same dream, Jacob shared with Laban but he did not mention that God told him in a dream.
Verse 25, “Jacob said to Laban, “Send me away, that I may go back to my own place and to my own country. Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know the work which I have done for you.” But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay with me; for I have learned [from the omens in divination and by experience] that the Lord has blessed me because of you.” He said, “Name your wages, and I will give it [to you].”
But instead of Laban releasing him, he asked him to name his wages and stay. And then Jacob shares with him like a business idea in verse 31, “ Laban asked, “What shall I give you?” Jacob replied, “You shall not give me anything. But if you will do this one thing for me [which I now propose], I will again pasture and keep your flock: 32 Let me pass through your entire flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep and every dark or black one among the lambs and the spotted and speckled among the goats; and those shall be my wages.”
Laban agreed to this idea which Jacob had received in a dream from the angel of God. And So Jacob became exceedingly prosperous, and had large flocks [of sheep and goats], and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys.
6. Learn How to Communicate Dreams to Different People
From above discussion, we see this was same dream but communication was done differently to different people.
For his uncle and father-in-law, Jacob communicated it as an idea, very casually in a conversation. He did not bother to tell Laban how he had seen the angel of God in a dream and the exact instructions he received. He says, “You shall not give me anything, but let me pass through your flocks and pick the ones not plain-coloured”. This does not sound anything spiritual or supernatural, though it was.
To his two wives, Racheal and Leah, he took time to detail his entire encounter with the angel of God. He also shared all the instructions he received from God.
7. There is a Dimension of Angels in Dreams
We see that God spoke to Jacob through His angel. We will see this in different examples throughout the Bible.
Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? Hebrews 1:14
God can and will send angels to minister to you.
8. The Ultimate Success of Your Dreams is Execution on Your Part
We see that the angel of God gave Jacob instructions. He went ahead to execute these instructions,
Then Jacob took branches of fresh poplar and almond and plane trees, and peeled white stripes in them, exposing the white in the branches. 38 Then he set the branches which he had peeled in front of the flocks in the watering troughs, where the flocks came to drink; and they mated and conceived when they came to drink. 39 So the flocks mated and conceived by the branches, and the flocks [g]gave birth to streaked, speckled, and spotted offspring. Genesis 30:37-39
He also obeyed the instruction to stand up and leave,
17 Then Jacob stood [and took action] and put his children and his wives on camels; 18 and he drove away all his livestock and [took along] all his property which he had acquired, the livestock he had obtained and accumulated in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Genesis 31:17-18
If you don’t obey the instructions given, there will be no results and you can easily think the dream was not true.
9. God’s Focus Is On You, Always
In his first dream at Bethel, God promises Jacob that He would be with him.
"Behold, I am with you and will keep [careful watch over you and guard] you wherever you may go, and I will bring you back to this [promised] land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Genesis 28:15
This is a promise all New Testament believers have with Jesus Christ.
And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Amen. Matthew 28:20
God desires a relationship with you as His child. The tasks and assignments He gives you could and will change over time but this promise shall remain forever. Just as Jesus called the disciples to Himself, so is He calling you to Himself first.
It is very likely that we focus on the assignments and forget the core of the calling – Jesus Christ.
